22. Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to improve the advice and support available to the business community in Wales from governmental organisations. [1877]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesIn November, the Department's small firms roadshow completed a tour of Wales. A mobile unit visited many industrial estates and business centres throughout the Principality. It was attended by advisers from the Welsh Office, the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales, the training and enterprise councils and other local business support bodies. It gave a shop window on business support to local business people and enabled the business community to air its views and have access to the support available. The roadshow provided advice to some 820 small and medium-sized firms in Wales.
The roadshow precedes the launch, on 15 January 1996, of "Business Connect Wales". This new initiative will greatly simplify access to publicly funded business support services throughout Wales. One low-cost telephone number will connect callers to the full range of services. Callers will be automatically switched to one of 34 outlets at which trained staff will either deal with the inquiry direct or refer to the source of expertise.